Beyond the common uses of image recognition we have gotten accustomed to, the revolutionizing technology goes far beyond our imagination. Here are seven daring applications of computer vision that might as well belong in a science fiction novel – but are getting very close to reality today.

By employing image recognition, Jetpac caught visual cues in the photos and analyzed them to offer live data to its users. For example, on the basis of images, the app could tell you whether a cafe in Berlin is frequented by hipsters, or it’s a wild country bar. This way, users receive local customized recommendations at-a-glance.

In August 2014, Jetpac was acquired by Google, joining the company’s Knowledge team. Its knowhow is said to be helping Google’s development of visual search and Google Glass, the ‘ubiquitous computer’ trial of the tech giant.

#2. Powering self-driving cars

In the last years, self-driving cars are the buzz in the auto industry and the tech alike. Autonomous vehicles are already being actively tested on U.S. roads as we speak. Forty-four companies are currently working on different versions of self-driving vehicles. Computer vision is one of the main technologies that makes these advancements possible, and is fueling their rapid development and enhanced safety features.

#3. Boosting augmented reality applications and gaming

Augmented reality experiments have long tantalized people’s imagination. With image recognition, transposition of digital information on top of what we see in the world is no longer a futuristic dream. Unlike virtual reality, augmented reality does not replace our environment with a digital one. It simply adds some great perks to it.

You can see the most common applications of augmented reality in gaming. A number of new games use image recognition to complement their products with an extra flair that makes the gaming experience more immediate and ‘real.’ With neural networks training, developers can also create more realistic game environments and characters.

Image recognition has also been used in powering other augmented reality applications, such as crowd behavior monitoring by CrowdOptic and augmented reality advertising by Blippar.

#4. Organizing one’s visual memory

Here’s for a very practical application of image recognition – making mental notes through visuals. Who wouldn’t like to get this extra skill?

The app Deja Vu, for example, helps users organize their visual memory. When you take a photo, its computer vision technology matches the visual with background information about the objects on it. This means you can instantly get data about books, DVDs, and wine bottles just by taking a photo of their covers or labels. Once in your database, you can search through your photos on the basis of location and keywords.

#5. Teaching machines to see

Besides the impressive number of consumer uses that image recognition has, it is already employed in important manufacturing and industrial processes. Teaching machines to recognize visuals, analyze them, and take decisions on the basis of the visual input holds stunning potential for production across the globe.

Image recognition can make possible the creation of machines that automatically detect defects in manufacturing pipelines. Besides already known faults, the AI-powered systems could also recognize previously unknown defects because of their ability to learn.

#6. Empowering educators and students

Another inspiring use of image recognition that is already being put in practice is tightly connected with education again – but this time, with improving education of people.

Image recognition is embedded in technologies that enable students with learning disabilities receive the education they need – in a form they can perceive. Apps powered by computer vision offer text-to-speech options, which allow students with impaired vision or dyslexia to ‘read’ the content.

Applications of image recognition in education are not limited to special students’ needs. The technology is used in a range of tools that push the boundaries of traditional teaching. For example, the app Anatomy3D allows discovery of the interconnectedness between organs and muscles in the human body through scanning of a body part. It revolutionizes the way students can explore anatomy and learn about the way our bodies function. Image recognition uses can also help educators find innovative ways to reach ever more distracted students, who are not susceptible to current methods of teaching.

#7. Improving iris recognition

Iris recognition is a widely used method for biometric identification. It’s most common application is in border security checks, where a person’s identity is verified by scanning their iris. The identification is conducted by analyzing the unique patterns in the colored part of the eye.

Even though iris recognition has been around for a while, in some cases it is not as precise as it’s expected to be. The advancement of image recognition, however, is bringing new possibilities for iris recognition use across industries with improved accuracy and new applications. Most notably, iris identification is already being used in some consumer devices. The smartphones Samsung Galaxy Note7 and Galaxy S8, and Windows Lumia 950 are among the ones already equipped with such a capability.

Have you had an experience with AI technology from a movie that years later you seen in real life? Share with the rest of the group and if it enough people like it we can build it together.

The uses of image recognition of the future are practically limitless – they’re only bound by human imagination. What is the practical application of computer vision that you find the most exciting or useful? We’d love to read about it in the comments below.